INTRO: Secretary of State Madeleine Albright says North Korea has agreed to a new round of talks on

its ballistic missile program. The Secretary made the announcement in Pyongyang after a second day of

meetings with North Korean leader Kim

Jong-il. VOA's Kyle King has this report.

TEXT: The Secretary said she used her two days of talks to raise the full range of U-S concerns about

North Korea's ballistic missile program.

/// ALBRIGHT ACT ///

We made important progress but much work remains to be done and I am pleased to announce that our

missile experts will reconvene next week

/// END ACT ///

North Korea surprised military experts two years ago when it tested a long range missile called the taepo-dong. The development set off alarm bells throughout the region because of the rocket's range and capability.

Ms Albright said the North Korean leader indicated that he understood U-S concerns, and officials say he indicated a willingness to halt the program

Secretary of State Albright, who is the first (U-S) cabinet level official to visit North Korea, described her talks as serious, constructive and

in-depth.

/// ALBRIGHT ACT TWO ///

While here I also raised with our DPRK (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) hosts a full range of our concerns, including global issues and

compliance with international norms, terrorism, the need to obtain the fullest possible accounting of missing persons (from the Korean War), humanitarian issues, and the need for concrete steps aimed at tension reduction on the peninsula.

/// END ACT ///

There had been speculation before the trip that Ms Albright would also be laying the groundwork for a visit by President Clinton. She said that decision would be up to the President and she would report back to him after a brief stop in Seoul on Wednesday to brief South Korean and Japanese Officials. (SIGNED)